@AgDieseler...why is there a plastic sleeve on my shock? 
CK5
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The Great Smaug
- Thread starter campfire
- Start date
I saw the sleeve, but it poses no functional risk to your shock...and can be easily cut off. 
I saw the sleeve, but it poses no functional risk to your shock...and can be easily cut off.
Yeah, I figured I'd cut it off if it ever bothered me.
I predict that it won't.
I'll prolly cut those boots off the rear, though. Neither one fits quite right.
I don't get why people say LS swaps are "me too" type. Yes they are getting more common. For the reasons Trustyk5 pointed out. Keep this in mind, gen 1 small block were last used in production back in like 2002-3 years on G-van's only. So the supply for used original small blocks is drying up. 5.3's and 6.0's have been in production since '99 and the LS1 came out in '97. Meaning we've had 20 years of LS production. The trucks for both GMC and Chevy average say 150,000 or better a year, add SUV's and van production and you've got probably a quarter million Gen 3 engines hitting the road since 1999. Like it or not, the reason they are cheap and plentiful to use is because there are just more of them out there.
Anybody can stick to the old stuff if they want. But you can't knock the new technology. Better power and fuel mileage? Yep. There's a reason why people are making the swap happen now. It just works. It's not to be another lemming doing the same thing as the next guy.
Anybody can stick to the old stuff if they want. But you can't knock the new technology. Better power and fuel mileage? Yep. There's a reason why people are making the swap happen now. It just works. It's not to be another lemming doing the same thing as the next guy.
I transferred the protecting sleeves from my 7100s to these. I wanted them to arrive in the same mint condition as when they left.
David
Not knocking new tech. If I was intending to drive a bunch of miles I would definitely be using a more modern platform. I'm happy with the 5.3s that I've driven. I'll go so far as to say I don't see any serious downsides. Even the original selling point of the 6.2 (20MPG) is getting more and more common each year. It's not unique anymore.
I just don't WANT to swap in such a common (i.e. boring) engine just yet.
-Need to finish playing with turbines first.
I figured as much. I saw you reused the 7100 box for shipping, too. I then turned around and used it to ship some axle shafts to another member. A very versatile and well-traveled box!
Run one of these backed by an Eaton 9 speed...
Run one of these backed by an Eaton 9 speed...
Sorry, I can't see past the shiny glare. But it doesn't look very diesely. What am I looking at?
Old skool 331 Chrysler Hemi.
You want unique...
Maybe one of these if you're more brand loyal?
You want unique...
Maybe one of these if you're more brand loyal?
I’m with trusty anymore. I owned two 6.2 L diesel’s and if I ever get another old Chevy it’ll either be a fuel injected small block or an LS swap. The day of the 6.2 L is gone.
It’s kind of like running a flathead Ford or stove bolt six. Neat because it’s different and not like what everyone else has but not all that practical.
Or cheap.
It’s kind of like running a flathead Ford or stove bolt six. Neat because it’s different and not like what everyone else has but not all that practical.
Or cheap.
For @GWeakland620, the official CK5 Crayon-eating picture addict. One mounted 5125. Turns out front shock towers really are easier when the engine bay is empty.
View attachment 249882
I even got the shock lined up with the tower. Whodathunkit?
View attachment 249885
And here's what the back looks like. The boot isn't happy, but I sure am.
View attachment 249884
I continue to be amazed how gnarly the rust under here looks. It looked SOOOOO pretty when I bought it.
Both front and rear shocks have about 4-5" of up travel. My floor is far from flat, and both axles are articulated, so I will have to get exact measurements later.
That's some good progress @campfire keep after it!
p.s. my vote is still for a 6.5TD. I'm going to keep looking for a good deal.
I'm still waiting to hear back from traveling Airwick. He sent me a teaser message and hasn't gotten back yet.
I have a couple. When you coming to get it?
I have a stovebolt 6 in my 57 Pontiac...it's pretty neat, and original to the car, and getting yanked in favor of an LQ-9.
Yeah, it is. But you know how bad the MAW bug is once things get started.
I'm exactly one piece short of completion here. If I change the engine then I wind up changing the gearing. And then I need a sturdier tranny behind a BBC. And then I need a hundred other upgrades. Gearing isn't a huge deal, the problem is that it's the tip of an iceberg that has already bogged this build down for 3.5 years now.
I have the wrong platform for that kind of build. We've both been saying that for a while now.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
What's your gearing?
3.73:1 with 0.73 O/D in the NV3500.
Oh, and 285/75R16 tires. 32.5" more or less.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
On a 33? Why would a 4.8/5.3 not work for that?
We have a winner
